Have children immunized 
vs measles, parents urged

ROXAS City — Health authorities in the province again called on parents to have their children immunized against measles.

Medical Specialist Dr. Evelyn Bolido of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) continues to urge the parents of children who are nine months old to avail themselves of the government’s free immunization.

Dr. Bolido said immunization against measles is one of those vaccines being given for free.

She said the Department of Health (DOH) had been giving all local government units vaccines for free immunization, particularly under its Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).

Earlier, PHO information officer Jeoffry Espiritu revealed that Capiz has already three confirmed cases of measles.

One of whom was 25 years old and the two others were nine and 10 years old, all residents of this city.

“We have been campaigning and giving free immunization against measles or tigdas for many years already but there are still those who continue to refuse to avail (themselves of the) said vaccines,” Espiritu said.

Since measles is a contagious viral infection, it can spread from one person to another, he said.

On the other hand, Dr. Bolido said the DOH Center for Health and Development 6 already made an advisory for the PHO, Roxas City health office, health education program officer and EPI coordinators to conduct a follow-up of defaulters for measles immunization here and nearby towns Panay, Panitan and Ivisan.

The follow-up of defaulters aims to track down unimmunized children and improve immunization coverage.

The advisory signed by DOH-6 Director Dr. Ariel Valencia suggested for the vaccination of children aged 12 months and older without prior history of monovalent measles with measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines, and recording them as Completely Immunized Child.

In the order, Dr. Valencia said a second dose of MMR may be given at least one month apart for children 13–15 months old.

Measles, also known as rubeola, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus morbillivirus.

Symptoms of the infection include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a generalized, maculopapular, and erythematous rash.

Measles is spread through respiration and is highly contagious — 90 percent of people without immunity sharing living space with an infected person will catch it. (Jemin B. Guillermo/PIA/PN